A mother of two whose house was in danger of being engulfed by flames has thanked the childhood friend who saved her and her family.

Amanda Williams said her friend Julie Garrett and son Ethan, nine, were heroes after alerting them to the blaze which started in a caravan on Brachdy Close, Rumney, Cardiff, and tore through three properties on March 26.

As previously reported, schoolboys Mikey Coles and Lewis Hill were also applauded for their bravery in calling the emergency services when they saw the fire.

Julie's son Ethan had been playing rugby with them and came running to tell his mum there was a caravan on fire.

She ran to Amanda's house.

But while Amanda, 34, husband Martin, 32, and children Oliver, six and Elizabeth, 13, were oblivious to the danger, Julie and Ethan were banging on the door to alert the family.

'I knew Amanda was in there with the children,' said Julie, 33, mum to Maddison, five.

'I was screaming and ringing the doorbell while flames were hitting me in the face.

'I was kicking the door and banging and they didn't answer. The caravan had gone up and flames were on the house.'

Amanda, who lives next door to where the caravan was, said: 'We were all at the back of the house apart from my son. There was banging at the door. At first I thought it was children playing. I asked my husband to answer the door and there was Julie screaming 'get out'. There were flames everywhere. If Julie hadn't been knocking our door we would've still been in there. I can't thank her enough.'

Julie also played host to 10 people and their pets after they were evacuated from their homes and Ethan helped the police when they arrived.

Other neighbours helped the family, offering footwear and coats.

'All we had on was our pyjamas. Everyone was brilliant,' said Amanda.

Anyone with information about the fire, which is being treated as suspicious, should call 029 2022 2111.